Oil-switch and fuse.



L. W. DOWNES & A. W. FAXON.

OIL SWITCH AND FUSE.

APPUCATIQN f1LED1uN25.191 -1.

Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Inni-sgg L. W. DOWNES & A. W. FAXON.

OIL SWITCH AND FUSE.

APPLlcArxoN FILED JUNE 25.1914.

Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 me/whom UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS W. DOWNES AND ALFRED W. FAXON, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND; SAIDFAXON ASSIGNOR TO D & W FUSE CO., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPO-RATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

OIL-SWITCH AND FUSE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, Louis W. DowNEs and ALFRED W. FAxoN, citizens ofthe United States of America, and residents of Providence, Rhode Island,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oil-Switches and Fuses,which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to electric switches and fuses.

Among the objects attained thereby are the following The provision of astructure in which the fuselink is adapted upon disruption by excessivecurrent to break the circuit in an arc-suppressing liquid, such as oil,the structure being at the same time operable as a switch to open thecircuit at terminals submerged in the arc-suppressing liquid. Thestructure is thus operable from the exterior of an inclosing casingwithout opening said casing. The fuse-link is connected between contactsor terminals which are moved into and out of engagement with relativelyfixed circuit terminals when the structure is operated as a switch orfor the insertion of a new fuse-link. The cover 0f the inclosing casingmust be fully and tightly closed before the terminals between which thefuselink is connected can be engaged with the circuit terminals. Thecover is automatically locked tightly closed by movement of thefuse-link or switch terminals into engagement with the circuit terminalsand remains so locked unt-il after such terminals are disengaged,whereby the fuse cannot possibly be disrupted with the cover open, orwith it closed and unlocked, hence avoiding any discharge of oil fromthe structure upon blowing of the fuse. These and other objects arerealized in the structure of the present invention.

lVhat is now regarded as the preferred mechanical expression orembodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view; Fig. 2 is asimilar view approximately at right angles to the plane of section ofFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, in elevation and section, of theupper portion of the structure Ashowing the fuse/dink carrier and.

associated movable elements swung upward to a position to open theswitch, with the cover of the casing closed; Fig. 4L is a similar viewwith the cover partly open and illustrating the action of means whichprevent the closing of the cover with the parts out of correct positionfor closing with safety; this figure also illustrates gas venting meanson the cover not shown in other figures; Fig. 5 is a detail perspectiveview of the insulating frame on which the circuit terminals are mounted;and Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on line (3*6 of Fig. 1.

10 is a cup-like casing, preferably of cast metal, having at one sidenotched lugs or ears 11, 11 for fastening the structure to a building,pole, or other support. Terminal conductors 12, 13 enter said casing bypassing upward through bushings 14 (only one of which shows in thedrawings), the joint between the conductors, bushings and casing beingsealed liquid-tight in any suitable way.

15 is an insulating base, frame or support of approximate E-shape of anysuitable insulating material, preferably such as that commercially knownas molded insulation, composed of a fibrous base of ingredients ofpowdered substances, such as ground asbestos, and a binding compound,such as rubber or bakelite. The support 15 has thereon three exteriorlugs 16, 16, 16 which rest against (with interposed packing) a ledge 17extending around three sides of the interior of the casing 10. A screw18 passes through each lug 16 into the ledge 17, as illustrated in Fig.2, thus securing the sup-v port 15 rigidly in place. The end wings 19and 20 of the support 15 are formed with inwardly projecting lugs 21 and22, respectively, each lug having therethrough two verticalperforations. 23 is a terminal brush riveted to the depending arm 21.1.of a horizontally disposed plate 25 which bears against the uppersurface of the lug 21 (Fig. 1). A metal strip 26 lits against the plate25 and another metal .strip 27 iits against the under edge of the lug21. A screw 28 (Fig. 6) passes downward through the plates 25, 26, oneof the perforations in the lug 21, and into screw-threaded engagementwith an opening ot plate 27. Another screw 2S) passes upward throughplate Q7, the other perforation in lug 2l, through plate 2; and intoscrew-tln'eaded engagement with plate 2b, and then into an elongated nut30. 'the inner end ot conductor l2 is electrically oined in any suitableway to the upper end ot nut 3U. luplicates ot these parts terminal brushplates 25, 2G, 2T, screws 28, it), and nut ltare associated with the lugand the inner end ot conductor 13, the terminal brush in this instancebeing designated by the numeral 3l.

lie casing it) has a cover 50 hinged thereto a Cil and adapted to beclamped in its closed position by the usual torni of swinging bolthaving a wing nut for enga gement over projecting lugs on the cover.

SI5 and are horizontal parallel shafts extending across the interior ofthe cover and iournaled in bearings in the opposite side walls thereof.in operating lever or handle 55 is tastened to one end ot the sha'litIi-t outside of the casing. A fuse-carrier and movable switch member (SOis clamped about and thus rigdly secured to the shaft 5st by a bolt (5l,and is forked or slotted at G2 whereby in its normal verticallydepending lon position it straddles the middle wing (lil ot the E-shapedYtrame 15, said wing G3 depending considerably7 below the end wings if)and 2O und constituting an insulating partition or barrier between thecircuit terminals 23 and 3l disposed on oppositeisides thereof'. rtheYt'irse-carrier 60 is made ot any suitable insulating material. butpreferably hard wood. such as birch, impregnated (in vacuum) with asuitable oil, such for eX- ample as the well-known transformer oil.

iS-l is an integrally formed enlargement at one side ot the carrier (SOproviding an overhanging ledge against the under side of whit a `tuseterminal piece (l5 is secured by a screw (3o, the outer surface ot saidterminal (35 being adapted to make electrical engagement with theterminal brush Q3 when the partsl ot the structure are in the positionshown in Figs. l and Q. An arm G7 depending trom the terminal piece (S5has a screw (3H with a clamping nut (if) positioned on the inner endthereof between the depending arm (i7 and the opposing tace of thecarrier (it). it t the other side ot the carrier G0 there is a similarenlargement (Si and associated therewith a similar Ytuse terminal pieceG5, screw (3G. arm il?. screw GS and nut G9. A

inse-link bent around the lower end ot the' fuse carrier (S0 and acrossthe lower end of the barrier (33. when the parts are in the p0- sitionshown in Figs. l and Q. is composed ot two end sections and 71. notchedor hooked as shown in dotted lines (Fig. et) for engagement with thescrews (38. G8. and a connecting middle section 'TQ which may overlapand be soldered to the end sections,

as illustrated in Fig. l. T he end sections T0 and Tl may be ot copperand the middle section T2 of readily `tusible metal.

T5 is an inwardly projecting ilange along the edge of one side or' theupper open end of the casing lt); there a similar` llange at theopposite side ot the casing. liach ot these flanges is eut away ornotched at 7G and TT (Fig. l). The shait carries at its opposite ends,inside oi the cover, two arms 'To' and T9. each having at its lower endan outwardly projecting cylindrical knob or extension. rlhe shaftsimilarly carries at its opposite ends, inside the cover, two arms t()and 8l, each having at its lower end an outwardly projecting cylindricalknob or extension. A link S2 joins the arms '79 and S0, whereby theshafts and --land their arms move in unison when the operating lever orhandle 55 is actuatet ln the normal closed or on position ot the switch,shown in vFigs. l. and E2', with the circuit brush terminals 23 and 3lin engagement with the fuse link terminals (55, (55, the operatinglhandle 55 and the arms 80, 8l on the shafts and 5l stand in anapproximately vert-ical position, with the knobs or extensions ot thearms 78 and 7S) engaging under the inwardly projecting flanges 15, 75 atopposite sides ot the casing and thus securely locking the cover in itsclosed position.

It is intended that the casingl shall be filled with an arc-suppressingliquid. such as oil, approximately to the oil-level" indicated on thedrawings, thus submerging not only the fuse-link but also the circuitand fuse-link terminals, when the parts are in the position shown inFigs. l and Q. To open the switchwboth when the structure is beingoperated merely as a switch and preparatory to opening the cover tor theinsertion ot a new fuse-link in place ot one which has beendisrupted-the operating handle 55 is actuated to rotate the sha tts andswing the parts associated therewith to the approximately horizontal oil'position shown in Fig. 3. ln such movement the circuit and 'useterminals a re disengaged below the level ot' the liquid, which latteris thus enabled to suppress any arc which n'ray tend to Jform upon theseparation of the terminals. .fitter the terminals have thus beendisengaged and near the end o'l the movement which brings the parts tothe position shown in Fig. 3, the knobs at the lower ends of the arms 7Sand 7) pass out trom under the edge oi" the over-hanging flanges To. T5and upward through the notches 7G. thereby unlocking the cover which maythereupon be opened it desired. Assuming the cover to have been openedtor the insertion of a new fuse-link or for other purpose. the cover canonly again be closed with the parts brought to the position shown inFig. 3; and

Slo

lll)

Liv)

.form of disks, cups, or spirals.

in such position when the operating lever is actuated to swing the fusecarrier downward to engage its terminals with the circuit terminals, theknobs on the arms 7 8 and 79 are automatically swung downward throughthe notches 76 and under the overhanging flanges 75, 75, thusautomatically lockingthe cover in its closed position before theterminals become ree-nga ged. Therefore, the cover can only be closedwith the parts in the proper position to afford the desired protection.As illustrated. in Fig. 4, for eX- ample, the parts are in an incorrectposition and hence the knobs at the lower ends of the arms SO and S1contact the flanges 7 5, 75 and prevent the closing of the cover;whereas were the parts in the correct position, as illustrated in Fig.3, said knobs would pass downwardly through the notches 77 of theflanges As is well known, the disruption of a fuselink by an excessivecurrent is accompanied by the instantaneous formation ofpressuregenerating gases. In Fig. 4 (though not in other figures of thedrawings because of lack of space), the casing is provided with asuitable vent for the ready escape of such gases to thereby preventinternal pressure which might become dangerous and destructive. Acup-like member 90 has a tubular stem 91 tapped and screw-threadedthrough the cover 50. A cap 92 covers the upper end of the cup-like partand has a flange 93 depending about the upwardly projecting flange 94which latter constitute the side walls of the cup-like member. There issufficient clearance between the flanges to constitute a vent passage orspace for the escape of gas. A shorter flange 95 depends from the cap 92inside of the upper edge of the flange 94. The parts thus describedinclose a vented chamber 96 with which the main chamber of the structurecommunicates through the tubular stem 91 and a tube 97 preferably brass.Tube 97 terminates at its upper end under a dome-like downwardlydeflecting surface 98 of the cap 92 and has a filling 99 of reticulatedmaterial, preferably line wire gauze, either in the Upon disruption orblowing of the fuse-link in the main chamber, gas and oil in a finelydivided commingled state are forced upward into the tube 97 where thegauze acts to arrest `the particles of oil, though permitting the gas topass on upward and out of the chamber 96 to the atmosphere. Such smallpartcles of oil as may, in eXtreme cases, be carried upward and out ofthe tube 97 into the chamber 96 will contact with the dome-like surface98 and be deflected to the bottom of said chamber' and thence drain backinto the main chamber through perforations 100, 100 in the side wall ofthe brass tube 97 just above the bottom of chamber 96.

The gas-vent means thus described, and illustrated in Fig. 4 of thedrawings, are not claimed in this application but are claimed in ourapplication filed May 27, 1914, Serial No. 841,335.

What is claimed is 1. The combination of a casing, circuit terminalcontacts therein, a cover for said casing, an oscillating insulatingmember on said cover adapted in normal position to depend below saidterminal contacts, contacts on said oscillating member adapted to engagesaid terminal contacts, and a fuse membei` connecting the contacts onsaid oscillating member and extending around the portion thereof adaptedto depend below the terminal contacts.

2. In an oil switch, a casing containing oil, circuit terminal contactslocated in said casing below the surface of the oil, a cover for saidcasing, an oscillating member on said cover adapted to depend below saidterminal contacts when in normal position, contacts on the sides of saidoscillating member adapted to engage said terminal contacts, and a fusemember connecting said contacts and adapted to be located below theterminal contacts when the switch is in on position.

3. In an oil switch, a casing containing oil, an insulating block insaid casing, terminal contacts associated with said block, a coverforsaid casing, rotating shafts in said cover, a two-legged insulatorhaving side projections thereon and mounted on one of said shafts andadapted to move therewith, electrical contacts attached to saidprojections and adapted to engage said terminal contacts, and a fusemember connecting said electrical contacts and adapted to pass below theends of said insulator, said insulator straddling a portion of thenon-conducting member when in vertical position.

4. In anoil switch containing a fuse, the combination of a casing withoil therein, an insulating block in said casing, terminal contactsmounted on said block, a cover for said casing, a shaft in said coveradapted to be moved by a member extending outside said cover, aninsulating member carrying electrical contacts associated with saidshaft, said contacts engaging said' terminal contacts, and a fusejoining said electrical contacts and movable with said insulating memberinto the lower part of said casing.

5. In an oil switch containing a fuse, the combination of a casing withoil therein, an insulating block in said casing, terminal contactsmounted on said block, a cover foi` said casing carrying shafts adaptedto be l moved by an external member, an insulating member carryingelectrical contacts associated with one of said shafts, said contactsadapted to engage the terminal contacts, a fuse joining .electricalcontacts and movllo Cir

able with said insulatingmember into the lower part of said casing7 andlugs mounted on the other of said shafts adapted to interlock withinward projections on said casing when the contacts are closed on eachother.

G. In an oil switch containing a fuse, the combination of a casinghaving oil therein, an insulating` block in said casing, terminalcontacts mounted on said block, a cover for said casing carrying' shaftsadapted to be moved by an external member, an insulating member not innormal open position.

7. rlhe combination of a two-part casing, one of said parts being acover; circuit terminals in the casing; a switch member in the casing'and movable from an on to an oil position with relation to saidterminals; a fuse connecting parts of said switch member and adapted todepend below said terminals when in on position; means extendine` to theexterior of the casingto actuate said switch member; and a pivotallocking device attached to one casingy part and actuated upon movementot' the switch member to lock the cover closed in the on position ofsaid member and to unlock the cover in the oli position of said member.

S. rlhe combination of a two-part casing` including a main casing' partand a cover; circuit terminals in the casing; a switch member within thecasing pivotally attached to and movable with the cover when the latteropened and adapted to be swung on its pivot from an on position inengagement with the terminals to an oil7 position out of engagement withsaid terminals; a fuse joining; parts of said switch member and adaptedto depend below said terminals when in on position; means extending fromsaid switch-member to the exterior of the casing for actuatincv thesame; and a locking` device pivoted to the cover and actuatel uponmovement of the switch member to lock the cover in the on7 position ofsaid member and to unlock the cover in the olf position of said member.

S). The combination of a two-part casingincludiirc` a main casing' partand a cover; circuit terminals in the casing: a switch member within thecasing` pivotallv7 attached to and movable with the cover when thelattcr is opened and adapted to be swung on its pivot from an on7position in engagement with the terminals to an oft position out ofengagement with said terminals; a fuse joining, parts of said switchmember and adapted to depeml below said terminals when in on7 position;means extendingl from said switch member to the exterior of the easingfor actuating the same; and means pivoted to the cover and movable withthe switch member to a position to prevent closing of the cover withsaid switch member in its on position.

lO. rfhe combination of a two-part casing including a main casing partand a cover; circuit terminals in the casing; a switch member within thecasin pi'votally attached to and movable with the cover when the latteris opened and adapted to be swung on its pivot from an on position inengagement with the terminals to an oli|77 position out of engagementwith said terminals; a fuse joining parts of said switch member andadapted to depend below said terminals when in on position; meansextending from said switch member to the exterior of the casing foractuating` the same; a locking' device pivoted to the cover and'actuatcdupon movement of the switch member to lock the cover in the on positionof said member and to unlock the cover in the ott position of saidmember; and means pivoted to the cover and actuated upon movement of theswitch member to assume a position to prevent closingv of the cover withsaid switch member in its on position.

ll. The combination of a two-part casino' including` a main casingl partand a cove circuit-terminals inthe casing; two shafts journaled in thecover; a switch member within the casing on one of said shafts; means outhe exterior of the casing' to rotate said shaft and swingthe switchmember to on and ott positions with relation to the terminals;connections from said shaft to the other shaft for rotatingY the latter;locking means on one shaft actuated by rotation thereotl to lock thecover closed in the on position of the switch member and to unlock thecover in the olf position of said member; and means carried bv the othershaft preventing closing' of the cover with the switch member in its onposition.

12. The combination of a casing; a cover therefor; an insulatingframe orsupport open at one side; circuit terminals mounted upon said frame: amovable switch member mounted on said cover for engaging said terminalsand adapted to move into and out of the open side of said frame inshiftingto its on and oft positions and a fuse positioned below saidterminals.

18. The combination of fixed circuit terminals; an insulating barrier orpartition between said terminals; a slotted switch member movable froman off position to an on7 position astride of said insulating barrierand in engagement with said termi- Cri nals, and a fuse on said switchmembei` adapted to depend below said member and said barrier.

14. The combination of an E-shaped insulating frame the middle wingthereof Constituting an insulating barrier or partition; circuitterminals on the end branches of said frame respectively; a slottedswitch membei' movable from an off position to an on position astride ofsaid insulating bai riei and in engagement with said terminals,

and a fuse connecting parts of said switch member.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribl5 ing witnesses.

LOUIS W. DOWNES. ALFRED W. FAXON.

Witnesses P. O. BAKER, GEORGE W. STEERE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

